Locations for Your Enjoyment

Location: Singapore, Singapore
NP: Prodigy - Voodoo People
Mood: Reminiscent

For a long time now I meant to write down the locations we liked best on our three months trip in South-East Asia. Choosing these magical places was surprisingly easy. So here we go. These are the places YOU should visit, too, in no particular order.

1. Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Serendipity Beach, Sihanoukville.

A beautifully dispersed city in the midst of awesome beaches is a must see for those of us who enjoy proximity to water. Alas, you can get away from the shoreline should you stay in the center of the city, but why on earth would you? Sihanoukville offers tasty food, cheap prices, seclusion and a lazy way of life. Lacks a bit on the cultural side, though.

Dutch Square, Malacca.

2. Malacca, Malaysia

A sweet UNESCO World Heritage City, Melaka aka Malacca is a particularly fond place for us. Large yet quiet, Melaka has a particularly enticing Chinatown running along Jonker Street and the few blocks around it. The food in Melaka is absolutely delicious (go nonya, but don't shy away from the basic foreign dishes), some of the best I've tasted anywhere, and there's culture in the form of European & Peranakan buildings and signs of the earlier Malaccan sultanate. Beer and alcohol are, as Malaysia is an islamic country, unfortunately pricy. Go there for the food and the Chinatown.

Boat Quay, Singapore.

3. Singapore, Singapore

Modern, futuristic and strict, Singapore is a brush of fresh air - a welcome reprieve from the very different surrounding countries. It can be summed up with the word "nice", but that would hardly explain the vast complexity of social and cultural fusion of Singapore. Expensive but clean, strict but full of options, Singapore is the closest thing to home in South East Asia. Go there for the ultra-cool architecture and enjoy a little something for everyone in this massive city of lions.

Central Tower of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap.

4. Siem Reap, Cambodia

Rarely is a city so divided by a river, and all the better for it! On the other side is the center for the partygoing types and on the other a quiet, relaxing horde of habitats, restaurants and little shops. But the true attraction here, make no mistake about it, is the nearby Angkor Wat and the lesser temples and ruins that are being eaten alive by the jungle and the massive flocks of tourists that go there every day. Culture all the way, rarely is there so much of it about. It is still enjoyable, still not completely ruined by all the tourists, so go now and become a part of the problem, before it's too late.

These were not all of the locations we enjoyed on the trip, but they are the ones that are easy to place on the top of the list. Other possible places to name would've been Cha-Am, Thailand; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Pattaya, Thailand and Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand. However, these places can not compete with the ones on the list.

Rooftops of Cha-Am, Thailand.

If one looks at the countries we visited, a surprising favourite jumps up immediately. Cambodia, of which I wouldn't have thought to have liked the most of all, is my personal favourite. It is definitely a country worth seeing. Yet, the city/location is more important than the country.

Rambo Restaurant at Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Pick the place you think you would like most due to the descriptions given, and you'll be sure to enjoy your journey in sunlight.

I only suggest you enjoy your journey for a length of time that exceeds the normal 2 weeks limit. It is the way to experience and learn little. Try a month (or more!) instead, and the rewards will become obvious.